Chris Fischetti

[Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano]

Curt Cignetti will soon sign a new contract with Indiana that pays him at least $12.5 million per year.

But after digging into the numbers, Cignetti might still be the most undervalued coach in college football (and not for the reason you might think).

We all know what Cignetti has done at IU is remarkable — he turned a perennial cellar-dweller into the national championship favorite just two years after his arrival.

This has transformed IU's athletic department:

• Before the 2025 season even kicked off, ticket revenue for IU's football team had surpassed $13 million.

• Indiana announced a $50 million stadium naming rights deal with Merchants Bank.

• Fundraising has hit a record high, with billionaire IU alum Mark Cuban donating to the athletic department for the first time ever.

But that's the obvious stuff; Cignetti's real impact comes in the admissions office.

IU's football team is essentially a marketing vehicle for the university — 24 million people watched them win the Rose Bowl, 18 million watched them win the Big Ten Championship, and when College Gameday visited Indiana's campus last year, more than 2 million people watched a 3-hour commercial about the school.

This publicity is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and is having a real impact on Indiana's finances.

In 2025 alone, Indiana University set school records for total enrollment (48,626 students), freshman class size (10,127 students), first-year out-of-state students (4,697), and application volume (73,400).

Indiana University Applicants
• 2019-20: 44,178
• 2020-21: 46,623
• 2021-22: 50,159
• 2022-23: 54,345
• 2023-24: 67,731
• 2024-25: 73,400

But since IU can only admit so many students each year, they leverage the additional demand to 1) rotate the composition of their student body toward out-of-state students, and 2) become more selective academically.

Out-of-state students now account for about 50% of IU's total enrollment, with the school admitting a total of 4,697 new out-of-state students in 2025 — roughly 500 more out-of-state students than IU's previous record.

This is an important distinction because out-of-state students pay $30,000 more in annual tuition – $12,000 for Indiana residents versus $42,000 for non-residents.

500 new out-of-state students
x $30,000 tuition difference
–––––––––
= $15 million annually

If you multiply that by a four-year degree, these out-of-state students are worth $60 million more to IU than their in-state counterparts.

And since football success attracts more applicants, IU's admissions office can be more selective.

Indiana's Fall 2025 class had a median high school GPA of 3.94 — the highest in IU admissions history.

This creates a virtuous cycle.

Better sports → more applicants → better students → higher rankings. Higher rankings then lead to even more applicants, and, eventually, higher tuition revenues.

This is exactly what happened at Alabama with Nick Saban, and it's a big reason why Indiana is completely comfortable giving Cignetti new contracts every year.

P.S. If you enjoyed this breakdown, join 135,000 others who learn about the business and money behind sports by reading my 3x weekly newsletter: https://t.co/OgN8EYGDHY

[Carl Banks @CarlBanksGIII]

HOF voting season is underway, and I'm deeply grateful for the incredible words shared by my peers in this video. Hearing their endorsements has left me speechless— I'm not good at asking for support, but I'm asking now. If you believe in my candidacy, please help me get this video seen. A simple repost makes all the difference. ​@Giants fans, let's unite! Your support is what can make this go viral.
#tellafriendtotellafriend #GoBigBlue 👇🏾
​https://t.co/0SJ3xDF1ei

[MLB @MLB]

To celebrate Mariano Rivera’s birthday, we have an autographed relic card to give away!

Like and repost for a chance to win.

[Chris Fischetti @fishnj78]

@BooThisManN @TheTailgateTent Well done!!! #HoddyToddy

[Mike Greengarten @GreenyRU]

In the new @EWRairport Terminal A for the first time. Blown away by it.

And there is @RutgersU & @RUAthletics branding everywhere! @R_Fund

#GoRU

[Chris Fischetti @fishnj78]

@TommyG105 @JoeFudgeJudge Key word(s) in CBS’ story…4:25 OR LATER. Honest mistake. Appreciate your work Tommy.

[Jason Duclona @DuclonaJason]

Scarlet nation let’s see the love🖤 ❤️ @RFootball @RUscarletnation

[The Rutgers Boardwalk @RUboardwalk]

After school and work tonight… head to @SHI_Intl Stadium‼️

Details: https://t.co/nVieCGVg79

#CHOP | 🪓 | #GoRU

[Rutgers Football 🪓 @RFootball]

The State of Rutgers:

✔️A group of people who come from an area that are tough
✔️They work hard
✔️Willing to sacrifice
✔️Find a way to get it done.

#CHOP | #GoRU | 🪓

[Bori_blanco @eddieant]

Congratulations to @SJD_51 @joe_vivens & #Familia
#SuperBowl #ChampionsOfTheWorld
@RamsNFL @RFootball 🪓💯🇺🇸

[Chris Fischetti @fishnj78]

@TheWillieTyler 🪓

[Rutgers Football 🪓 @RFootball]

. @__RHJR is DIFFERENT ‼️‼️

Congrats, @RutgersMBB!! #PoundingNails

[Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 @RutgersMBB]

HERE COMES THE COURT STORM!!!

#GardenStatement🛡️⚔️

[Bori_blanco @eddieant]

Jersey kid staying home doing the #Chop what’s better than that 😄
🪓💯🇺🇸 @RFootball @tommy_amankwaa 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[Bori_blanco @eddieant]

Anyone being recruited by @RFootball can clearly see we need help turning the corner.. Perfect opportunity to step in & contribute asap.. It’s all there for the taking step up step in & make a difference.. 🪓💯🇺🇸

[Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 @RutgersMBB]

For the first time in 30 years, WE ARE IN!

#GardenStatement | #MarchMadness

[Mike Greengarten @GreenyRU]

Rutgers.
Football.
Is.
Back.

@RFootball @RUAthletics @R_Fund @GregSchiano

Awesome watching our program in the National Spotlight tonight during the #NationalChampionship game.

As @CoachPikiell would say, buy stock now 📈 #CHOP 🪓

[Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 @RutgersMBB]

The Big Ten schedule is set!

📰 about our league schedule: https://t.co/h2O2ZnPBNT

🛡 ⚔️ #GardenStatement